Defective Nailbomb...

[9999]

I got my stormy monday neck and nailbomb bridge pickup about a week ago.  I brought it to my local shop to be put in (as well as a few other mods such as a bone nut, and jimmy page style push-pulls).  Today they call me and apparently the Nailbomb isn't working properly.  

It measures to 16k like it should, but only the bottom coil is working, it will not function as a humbucker.  He said he tried every possible way of wireing them, because as he said, he is a lot quicker to blame human error than a pickup company.  He even tried going straight from the jack to just the humbucker but the same thing still happens.

This is a obviously a problem, especially since I live in the US.  I'm not sure the steps to take, I am going to call tomorrow when its an appropriate time for the UK.  Anyone have this happen to them?  Hopefully, Tim or someone involved in the company will read this and be able to help me out...

[PhilKing]

It can't measure to 16K if one coil is not working, as each coil is 8K.  If it is measuring 16K but not working, then it has to be the wiring.  If it is not hum-cancelling, then the coil must be going the wrong way, so swapping the red and green should change it.  

I can't think of anything else, but I'm sure Tim or Steve will give you an answer.

[Kilby]

Assuming that he was measuring 16K at the end of the hookup leads most likely things are intact.

Not owning any Bareknuckle products yet (I'm trying though) I am assuming that the hookup wire connects to the coil wire via an eyelet arrangement, is are those intact.

It may help to ask one or more of these questions.

If he uses the coil split does the resistance fall to 8K appx ?

If it's not running as a humbucker then what is it running as ?

Is it running split coil or not at all ?

Finally (BTW this is not a question to ask) do you have confidence in the guys ability (I truely don't mean to cause trouble) has the pickup been tugged a bit too hard, dropped, connected correctly ?

I say this as we have all made mistakes and we seldom want to admit to them (even to ourselves).

Rob...

[9999]

PhilKing, I know is he said it measured to 16k, although I didn't check myself (or do I know how to).  But I went over to the store and tried it and the 60 cycle hum was there and from the sound you could tell it was a single coil.

And Kilby,
If he uses the coil split does the resistance fall to 8K appx ?
I don't know

If it's not running as a humbucker then what is it running as ?
Single coil.

do you have confidence in the guys ability?
I have no experience with him in the past

He got the neck pickup working perfectly, so I'm not so sure its a wiring problem, although I hope it is, so I don't have to wait another week for a replacement and all the hassle.

[Ratrod]

Is it wired out of phase perhaps?

[PhilKing]

I think from what you are saying that they have used the Seymour Duncan wiring colours.  If they reverse the red and green, I think it will all work.

[Bainzy]

The nature of Bareknuckle's manufacture (being hand wound and lots of care taken to manufacture them to a certain quality) means that QC issues should be in theory pretty much nonexistent - you can't spend that much time with a pickup and not know it has such a problem. The problem definately has to lie with the guy wiring it in for you.

[Steve-Mr Pig 2U]

Was the pickup bought directly from us, or one of our US dealers?

[9999]

Thanks everyone, Im hoping its the wiring, it didn't make much sense to me that itd be the pickup, but said he "tried everything" so I wasnt sure.   But apparently it is him.
Tims said hed give him a call and talk him through it, siick.

Thanks dudes

[Underground_Player]

Damn I knew I saw a thread on this....


Just the other day my bridge Nailbomb cut out, then went intermittent and finally came back on in a couple of minutes. Neck and middle positions both fine, although the mid position could have just been the neck pickup, I can't remember. I looked in the c. cavity and everything was soldered up. Its worked fine since but I've got to get it checked out, I mean it could have been the toggle switch or something (I can't really see how an actual pickup could stop working) but that seems to be connecting fine, no crud between the contacts or anything.

Probably not the pup then, but I couldn't help notice that its a bridge position Nailbomb just like 9999's.

[Steve-Mr Pig 2U]

Damn I knew I saw a thread on this....


Just the other day my bridge Nailbomb cut out, then went intermittent and finally came back on in a couple of minutes. Neck and middle positions both fine, although the mid position could have just been the neck pickup, I can't remember. I looked in the c. cavity and everything was soldered up. Its worked fine since but I've got to get it checked out, I mean it could have been the toggle switch or something (I can't really see how an actual pickup could stop working) but that seems to be connecting fine, no crud between the contacts or anything.

Probably not the pup then, but I couldn't help notice that its a bridge position Nailbomb just like 9999's.

Its probably a dry solder joint or one of the pots/switch has died. Pickups dont usually stop working, then start again!

[Tim]

If you have any doubt just pop it back to me and I'll give it the once over although I must admit I think it's more likely to be a switch or pot fault especially if you're using push pulls which are notoriously unreliable.

[Underground_Player]

Thanks for the offer Tim, but I think its another job for Duncan@Organic!
I'll let you know how I get on.

[WITH FULL DISTORTION]

did you got it done/fixed?

[Underground_Player]

Actually it hasn't done it since then, so I've kind of let it pass. Intermittent faults are always the most worrying though  :x  so I'd still like to get it checked out when I've got a free day.




My SD Convertible amp's gone back for another diagnosis btw - the reason I haven't been around this forum much lately is 'cos I've been on this one:  

http://www.diyguitarist.com/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=9